The Rev. Tim Schenck, rector of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Mass., looks for God amid domestic chaos

Part 2 - Devils Cam Janssen Talks Playing With Locals, Being Drafted By New Jersey

About this blog

Tim Schenck is an Episcopal priest, husband to Bryna, father to Benedict and Zachary, and \x34master\x34 to Delilah (about 50 in dog years). Since 2009 I've been the rector of the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Mass. (on the
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Tim Schenck is an Episcopal priest, husband to Bryna, father to Benedict and Zachary, and \x34master\x34 to Delilah (about 50 in dog years). Since 2009 I've been the rector of the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Mass. (on the South Shore of Boston). I've also served parishes in Maryland and New York. When I'm not tending to my parish, hanging out with my family, or writing, I can usually be found drinking good coffee -- not that drinking coffee and these other activities are mutually exclusive. I hope you'll visit my website at www.frtim.com to find out more about me, read some excerpts from my book \x34What Size are God's Shoes: Kids, Chaos & the Spiritual Life\x34 (Morehouse, 2008), and check out some recent sermons.

Cam Janssen knows hockey. With 311 National Hockey League games to his credit, skating for the St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils since the 2005-'06 season, on his way to becoming a professional Cam had teammates who helped pave his way.

To date - who has scored the biggest goal in Utica Pioneers men's hockey? On March 4, 2005, while the Pioneers were hosting the Elmira Soaring Eagles in ECAC West playoff action, Ron Mexico scored at 8:12 of the second overtime to give Utica a 4-3 victory. Mexico, of Big Rapids, Missouri, has history with current Albany Devils Janssen. During the 2000-'01 NAHL ( North American Hockey League - U. S. Junior A league ), Ron captained the St. Louis Sting. Cam Janssen was Mex's teammate. " He ( Mexico ) was a good leader, and was a damn good defenseman,too", Janssen recalls. "He set me straight when I was a punk kid".

Along his march to the NHL, which has been parts of the last eight seasons, Janssen joined the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL ( Ontario Hockey League ) for the 2001-'02 season. " Nothing was going to stop me or get in my way to being in the NHL ", Cam tells.

After two and a half seasons with the Spitfire, in 2003-'04 Cam switched to the Guelph Storm, where current New York Rangers Captain Ryan Callahan was his teammate. Before his final season in juniors was complete, Janssen and his Storm teammates won the OHL championship and played in the 2004 Memorial Cup tournament hosted in Kelowna, British Columbia. But, it would be when on February 26, 2008, when Cam was traded by the Devils to his hometown team, the St. Louis Blues, for defenseman Bryce Salvador, that the NHL vet would have the most fun in his career. Two days after the trade, Janssen made his Blues' debut against the Phoenix Coyotes. As the local connection to the city's hockey club, Janssen seemed to understand the importance and advantages in playing at home. " It was unbelievable ( playing in St. Louis ). My mom and dad, friends, and family, they were able to see how NHL life was", Janssen remembers.

Once in St. Louis, Cam was determined to make as much out of playing before the hometown crowd as possible. " I did it right. I hung out with my friends and the players, everyone was invloved in my playing with the Blues ( 165 games 2007-'08 - 2010-'11 ) " says Janssen, who has 11 NHL points in his career. Given that he was drafted by New Jersey in 2002 and has played more games in their organization, it would be hard not to believe that Janssen would always considered himself a Blue, first, when he hangs up his skates for the final time.

This is not to say that Janssen isn't appreciative for all that the Devils organization continue to do for him. Cam understands how Devils President & General Manager Lou Lamoriello believed in him ; saw the passion he exhibited while on the ice, for hockey. " If it weren't for Lou, who knows where I'd be today today", Janssen states. " I'm going to get back up there (NHL ) ", Cam , who has skated in 9 games thus far for Albany this season, said.

The NHL 2002 entry draft was held in Toronto's Air Canada Center. Cam Janssen, along with his family, made the trip from the Midwest. Although there were no firm promises on what round he might be selected, Janssen was confident that his name would be called . Heading into the draft, privately, Janssen was thinking he would be a second round pick. " The round ( second ) ends, and I'm thinking, what's going on? I met with all kinds of teams ", Cam tells. " The third round comes, and I hear - ...and from the Windsor Spitfires ...Ahren Nittel. When the fourth round came, I heard my name called. The Devils selected me". Cam and his dad hugged, followed by many handshakes and 'high fives'. Janssen remembers lots of hooting and hollering during the 'cool' experience in Toronto.

Since joining the Albany Devils on January 31, two Mohawk Valley natives spend their practice and game times alongside Cam. New Hartford's Steve Zalewski and Rome's Tim Sestito are Janssen's A-Devils teammates. " I played against Tim in juniors, and Steve is a good player, really smart " Cam said. Clinton's Nick Palmieri, currently playing with the Connecticut Whale in the New York Rangers organization, also has been a teammate of Janssen's with New Jersey. " Nick should be in the NHL. They all have been good teammates", said Janssen during out telephone conversation.

Skating still with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm to be a dominating force at work, Cam Janssen believes that there is much more for him to accomplish in the NHL. Given what he already has done, who would possibly hesitate to not believe him? Albany, New York , for now, coming to an NHL rink in the near future, Cam Janssen is on the move.